Town Square

Driver who struck bicycling boy won't be charged

Original post made
on Jul 18, 2013

A driver who had a small amount of methamphetamine in his blood when he struck and critically injured a 12-year-old Palo Alto boy will not face criminal charges in the crash, Supervising Deputy District Attorney Cindy Hendrickson said on Thursday.

Posted by RMRN
a resident of Midtown
on Jul 18, 2013 at 10:07 pmRMRN is a registered user.

I am frustrated to realize that we have decided to allow such dangerous vehicle operation without real consequences. At minimum, anyone who seriously injures someone through careless driving should lose their driving privileges. This makes the bike lane sound like a dangerous place.

Posted by Eva_PA
a resident of Ventura
on Jul 19, 2013 at 11:10 amEva_PA is a registered user.

I am aghast that the DA doesn't think they can get more than a misdemeanor conviction from this case. The driver admitted that he was going 25-35 mph in a 25 mph zone AND there was a trace amount of a methamphetamines in his system AND he hit a child riding in the bike lane. "We could not find a single case where similar driving was found to be 'reckless.'"

Hitting a person in the bike lane is only a misdemeanor???

I am so saddened for the Lerrick family and can't imagine the pain they must be feeling after dealing with the tragedy and now being told that there is no justice for their son.

What laws need to be changed so a future crime like this can be prosecuted?

Posted by teresa_w
a resident of Mountain View
on Jul 19, 2013 at 11:16 amteresa_w is a registered user.

I'm not sure how this isn't reckless driving. "small amount of methamphetamine in his blood"? Sounds to me like someone went on a binge and didn't sleep for 3 days hindering his ability to safely operate the vehicle.

Posted by Trainspotting
a resident of Charleston Gardens
on Jul 19, 2013 at 6:11 pmTrainspotting is a registered user.

It does sound a bit strange where the DA will NOT prosecute even though the driver has already admitted fault. Perhaps, the DA is afraid to set forward a precedence of charging a crime against a driver who hits a cyclist, let alone with meth in his system?

I don't accept this "lack of evidence" as face value. Then again, I'm not a DA under the scrutiny of internal politics.